Maruti: Management, workers talk on Mon

Chandigarh(Punjab): Maruti Suzuki management and striking workers will hold talks on Monday in a bid to resolve the ongoing impasse, the Haryana government said Saturday.

"I have been told by the management of Maruti Suzuki on Saturday that it would hold talks with workers on Monday to end the stalemate," north Indian state of Haryana Labour Minister Shiv Charan Lal Sharma told PTI Saturday after the striking workers vacated the premises complying with the Punjab and Haryana High Court order. He, however, said the management had expressed fears that the workers who remained in the plants in the past few days might have caused harm to the machinery and other critical equipment.

"The management wanted to ensure that machinery and auto equipment, have not been damaged in any way by the workers during their stay in the factory premises. Therefore, it will carry out a through check of the plants," he said. The minister said he had asked agitating workers to end the stand-off with the management.

"I have told the workers that let the management carry out inquiry against the 44 permanent workers. While casual workers are going to be absorbed with production getting normalise," he said. The minister said fresh round of talks might happen without the involvement of Haryana Labour Department. "Only management and workers will hold talks to resolve their issue," he said.

Workers have been demanding reinstatement of 1,200 casual workers and 44 permanent workers without any inquiry. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed an order on Thursday that there would be no sit-in strike within 100 meters of the premises of Maruti Suzuki`s factory at Manesar.

After occupying the work spots for eight days, the striking workers of MSI`s Manesar plant had started vacating the premises in compliance the court order. Workers at MSI`s Manesar plant have been demanding reinstatement of 1,200 casual workers. They are also demanding that 44 permanent workers, who were suspended after an agreement signed to end the 33-day stand-off on October 1, should also be taken back.

Workers of Suzuki Powertrain India Ptd (SPIL) and Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt, who were also on strike in support of their colleagues in Maruti Suzuki`s Manesar plant, vacated their respective factory premises this morning.